Pallet box assembly

Abstract

Described is a pallet box assembly for receiving and transporting heavy and/or high temperature objects. The pallet box assembly includes a tub and frame configured for receiving the tub. The tub has a bottom plate comprising two lateral side portions and at least one upwardly arc-shaped portion therebetween. Each of the two side portions further has a bent section, the bent section forming a longitudinally extending corner portion of the tub, and a substantially vertical section connecting to the bent section, the substantially vertical section reaching upwards from the bent section to align and connect to the respective side plate, wherein the substantially vertical section and the respective side plates further includes a longitudinally extending connection area.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pallet box assembly for receiving and transporting heavy and/or high temperature objects, the pallet box assembly having a front end and a rear end separated in a longitudinal direction (lod), the front end being adapted to receive a carrier for transporting the pallet box assembly, the pallet box assembly comprising a tub and a frame configured for receiving the tub, the frame comprising:
 at least two top rails separated in a lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, and 
 at least two bottom rails separated in the lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, 
 connecting rails connecting a respective top rail and a bottom rail, and 
 lateral rails extending laterally and connecting the respective connecting rails, 
 the tub comprising:
 at least two laterally separated side plates, the side plates extending substantially in a respective vertical/longitudinal plane (VLP), thereby forming side walls of the tub; 
 a bottom plate extending in a lateral/longitudinal plane (LLP) and connecting to a bottom portion of the respective side plates, thereby forming a bottom surface of the tub; 
 the bottom plate comprising two lateral side portions and at least one upwardly arc-shaped portion therebetween, 
 the two side portions each comprising a lateral section connecting to the upwardly arc-shaped portion, the lateral section adapted to support the tub against the lateral rails of the frame, 
 characterized in that
 each of the two side portions further comprising: 
 a bent section connecting to the lateral section, the bent section forming a longitudinally extending corner portion of the tub, and 
 a substantially vertical section connecting to the bent section, the substantially vertical section reaching upwards from the bent section to align and connect to the respective side plate, wherein 
 the substantially vertical section and the respective side plates further comprises a longitudinally extending connection area, and 
 the tub further comprises a front plate extending substantially in a lateral/vertical-plane (LVP) and connecting to the side plates in the front end of the tub, thereby forming a front wall of the tub, wherein the bottom plate and the front plate are spaced from each other along the longitudinal direction (lod) or in a vertical direction to define a gap therebetween. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tub further comprises a lower plate vertically below the bottom plate and connecting to its lateral side portions to counter lateral expansion of the bottom plate due to forces acting on the upwardly arc-shaped portion, such as when receiving and/or transporting heavy objects. 
     
     
       3. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower plate comprises two bent sections and two substantially vertical sections with substantially corresponding profiles to the bent sections and vertical section of the bottom plate, the respective bent sections and the vertical sections being at least partly in abutting contact. 
     
     
       4. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein each vertical section of the lower plate comprises a longitudinally extending connection area for connecting to a second connection area-of the vertical section of the bottom plate. 
     
     
       5. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front lateral reinforcing beam connected to an external front end of the bottom plate or the lower plate, the front lateral reinforcing beam further comprising a protrusion extending upwards along an external side of the front plate, the protrusion configured for coming in abutting contact with the front plate when the front plate bulges forward due to heavy loads, thereby supporting the front plate. 
     
     
       6. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface and/or the side walls are constructed by a plurality of plates. 
     
     
       7. A pallet box assembly for receiving and transporting heavy and/or high temperature objects, the pallet box assembly having a front end and a rear end separated in a longitudinal direction (lod), the front end being adapted to receive a carrier for transporting the pallet box assembly, the pallet box assembly comprising a tub and a frame configured for receiving the tub, the frame comprising:
 at least two top rails separated in a lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, and 
 at least two bottom rails separated in the lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, 
 connecting rails connecting a respective top rail and a bottom rail, and 
 lateral rails extending laterally and connecting the respective connecting rails, 
 the tub comprising:
 at least two laterally separated side plates, the side plates extending substantially in a respective vertical/longitudinal plane (VLP), thereby forming side walls of the tub; 
 a bottom plate extending in a lateral/longitudinal plane (LLP) and connecting to a bottom portion of the respective side plates, thereby forming a bottom surface of the tub; 
 the bottom plate comprising two lateral side portions and at least one upwardly arc-shaped portion therebetween, 
 the two side portions each comprising a lateral section connecting to the upwardly arc-shaped portion, the lateral section adapted to support the tub against the lateral rails of the frame, 
 characterized in that
 each of the two side portions further comprising: 
 a bent section connecting to the lateral section, the bent section forming a longitudinally extending corner portion of the tub, and 
 a substantially vertical section connecting to the bent section, the substantially vertical section reaching upwards from the bent section to align and connect to the respective side plate, wherein 
 
 
 
       the substantially vertical section and the respective side plates further comprises a longitudinally extending connection area,
 wherein the tub further comprises a lower plate vertically below the bottom plate and connecting to its lateral side portions to counter lateral expansion of the bottom plate due to forces acting on the upwardly arc-shaped portion, such as when receiving and/or transporting heavy objects, 
 wherein the tub comprises a plurality of lower plates, and wherein the tub presents a gap between each of the plurality of lower plates. 
 
     
     
       8. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tub is placed on the frame without being rigidly attached to the frame. 
     
     
       9. A pallet box assembly for receiving and transporting heavy and/or high temperature objects, the pallet box assembly having a front end and a rear end separated in a longitudinal direction (lod), the front end being adapted to receive a carrier for transporting the pallet box assembly, the pallet box assembly comprising a tub and a frame configured for receiving the tub, the frame comprising:
 at least two top rails separated in a lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, and 
 at least two bottom rails separated in the lateral direction (lad) and extending longitudinally, 
 connecting rails connecting a respective top rail and a bottom rail, and 
 lateral rails extending laterally and connecting the respective connecting rails, 
 the tub comprising:
 at least two laterally separated side plates, the side plates extending substantially in a respective vertical/longitudinal plane (VLP), thereby forming side walls of the tub; 
 a bottom plate extending in a lateral/longitudinal plane (LLP) and connecting to a bottom portion of the respective side plates, thereby forming a bottom surface of the tub; 
 the bottom plate comprising two lateral side portions and at least one upwardly arc-shaped portion therebetween, 
 the two side portions each comprising a lateral section connecting to the upwardly arc-shaped portion, the lateral section adapted to support the tub against the lateral rails of the frame, 
 characterized in that
 each of the two side portions further comprising: 
 a bent section connecting to the lateral section, the bent section forming a longitudinally extending corner portion of the tub, and 
 a substantially vertical section connecting to the bent section, the substantially vertical section reaching upwards from the bent section to align and connect to the respective side plate, wherein 
 
 
 
       the substantially vertical section and the respective side plates further comprises a longitudinally extending connection area,
 wherein the tub is disconnectably connected to the frame via at least one floating lock mechanism comprising a locking part of the tub, a locking part of the frame and a locking member, the floating lock mechanism providing a gap between at least one of the locking part of the tub, the locking part of the frame and the locking member, thereby allowing the tub to thermally expand without pressing against the frame. 
 
     
     
       10. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the floating lock mechanism is placed between an upper portion of the tub and the top rails, allowing the tub to rest on the points of the floating lock mechanisms, thereby providing a vertical gap between the tub and the frame. 
     
     
       11. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises two longitudinally extending brackets extending along an intersection of the lateral rails and the respective connecting rails, the brackets having a lateral portion supporting the tub, and a vertical portion for restricting lateral movement of the tub. 
     
     
       12. The pallet box assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the pallet box assembly presents a lateral gap in between the tub and the vertical portions of the brackets, the lateral gap preferably being at least 0.5% of the width of the tub at a region of the bracket when the tub is unloaded. 
     
     
       13. A carrier system comprising a carrier and a pallet box assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. A method comprising the step of receiving or transporting metal mill by-products in the pallet box assembly of  claim 1 .